Island Living Q&A - Early Access!
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Forum Discussion
GAMEPLAY
Other worlds terrain has not been edited to allow ocean swimming at this time. This does not mean the feature won't come in future packs though. The devs wanted to focus time on making the ocean really fun and beautiful, rather than spend time updating other worlds.
Sand sculptures and other sand activities like beachcombing can only be made on the sand terrain in Sulani. Again, they wanted to make the activities great rather than adding the code to a list of way too many world terrains. Sand sculptures are a group activity like building Snow Pals in Seasons. Sand activities appear to be available from toddler and up.
Tanning is exclusive to the EP, so you won't see the interaction on the free lounger without it. Tanning is an opt-in activity on loungers, floating loungers and beach towels. Sunbathing is not always available, the interaction is greyed out and not available if it is too cloudy.
You can choose to sunbathe in swimwear, current outfit or even in the nude. Choose wisely, because tan and burn lines conform to the outfit you are wearing at the time and are visible in other outfits later. You can overwrite your tan line by sunbathing in a different outfit.
Burning happens when sunbathing for too long without applying sunscreen. You will get a "Sunkissed" moodlet that results in a tan when the sunbathing interaction is cancelled, but if you haven't applies sunscreen (interaction, no purchase required) and you bask too long you will get a visual glow that warns you are going to be burned when you stand finish. Sunscreen prevents sunburns for the current tanning session, I believe.
Natural skintones tan and burn in realistic patterns according to your outfit. Fantasy skintones (alien/vampire/BG blue/green) do not burn at all.
Swimming in the ocean is new to this world. Toddlers can sit in the shallow water of the ocean and splash about (see @SimGuruFrost's tweet for video). Children+ can swim in the sea and snorkel. Dogs can swim in the ocean (with C&D).
There are new swimming styles as you level up in Fitness skill (I think?), each increasing in speed and being increasingly more efficient in regards to energy expended. Mersims have a unique swim style and can swim almost as fast as Aqua-Zips.
Both snorkelling and scuba diving are tied to buoy objects. It wasn't stated if these buoys are available in the catalogue or debug, so you'll have to check builder's videos for that.
Snorkelling can be done individually or as a group, not sure about the other buoy activities.
Scuba diving (which is a rabbithole activity). It wasn't shown in the stream so cautiously saying teen+, as it seems most likely. Likely requires having equipment first as there is an interaction called "Buy scuba tanks/gear(?) $2500" on the buoy. I don't think this is available on buoys in the shallows.
Other options at the buoys are spear-fishing and take pictures/photos. Not sure if you need a certain skill level or equipment to access spear-fishing (maybe the "Buy knife $250" interaction). You can also "Buy camera $1000" to access underwater photography. Not sure if any of these buyables are inventory objects or if they merely work like buoy upgrades.
Dolphins also spawn at buoys. Dolphins come in 3 varieties, can be befriended, fed, petted and asked to do various tricks. You have your own personal dolphin friend (random variety), and you can name them when your relationship is high enough. Mersims can call dolphins.
Rarely, sharks spawn at buoys. You can be pulled under by sharks, and it can be lethal, though I believe the ghost is Death by Drowning, same as the denizen pond from GF.
I have no idea of the gameplay around the Elementals/Spirits other than it's kind of a karma based system. You treat the island well and you'll be blessed with good things, treat it badly and you'll be cursed with bad luck.
Sims can litter the island or help clean it, even if they aren't in the Conservationist career. Every resident and visitor contributes to the overall environmental health of the island. You can make it worse as well as better. Starting state is bad and there are 3 stages before the best, most ecologically diverse version of the islands. Ecologically healthier islands mean better fish and collectibles, as well as prettier scenery and a possibility to see a sea turtle hatching event!
Lots of things can be used and done in other worlds. If you want a sailing lake in Granite Falls, go ahead and build yourself a giant pool with some outriggers floating on it. You can relax or sunbathe anywhere a beach towel or lounger is placed, or take portable versions with you if you vacation. Anything that is tied to a placeable object is available anywhere you place that object, it's as simple as that.
Other worlds terrain has not been edited to allow ocean swimming at this time. This does not mean the feature won't come in future packs though. The devs wanted to focus time on making the ocean really fun and beautiful, rather than spend time updating other worlds.
Sand sculptures and other sand activities like beachcombing can only be made on the sand terrain in Sulani. Again, they wanted to make the activities great rather than adding the code to a list of way too many world terrains. Sand sculptures are a group activity like building Snow Pals in Seasons. Sand activities appear to be available from toddler and up.
Tanning is exclusive to the EP, so you won't see the interaction on the free lounger without it. Tanning is an opt-in activity on loungers, floating loungers and beach towels. Sunbathing is not always available, the interaction is greyed out and not available if it is too cloudy.
You can choose to sunbathe in swimwear, current outfit or even in the nude. Choose wisely, because tan and burn lines conform to the outfit you are wearing at the time and are visible in other outfits later. You can overwrite your tan line by sunbathing in a different outfit.
Burning happens when sunbathing for too long without applying sunscreen. You will get a "Sunkissed" moodlet that results in a tan when the sunbathing interaction is cancelled, but if you haven't applies sunscreen (interaction, no purchase required) and you bask too long you will get a visual glow that warns you are going to be burned when you stand finish. Sunscreen prevents sunburns for the current tanning session, I believe.
Natural skintones tan and burn in realistic patterns according to your outfit. Fantasy skintones (alien/vampire/BG blue/green) do not burn at all.
Swimming in the ocean is new to this world. Toddlers can sit in the shallow water of the ocean and splash about (see @SimGuruFrost's tweet for video). Children+ can swim in the sea and snorkel. Dogs can swim in the ocean (with C&D).
There are new swimming styles as you level up in Fitness skill (I think?), each increasing in speed and being increasingly more efficient in regards to energy expended. Mersims have a unique swim style and can swim almost as fast as Aqua-Zips.
Both snorkelling and scuba diving are tied to buoy objects. It wasn't stated if these buoys are available in the catalogue or debug, so you'll have to check builder's videos for that.
Snorkelling can be done individually or as a group, not sure about the other buoy activities.
Scuba diving (which is a rabbithole activity). It wasn't shown in the stream so cautiously saying teen+, as it seems most likely. Likely requires having equipment first as there is an interaction called "Buy scuba tanks/gear(?) $2500" on the buoy. I don't think this is available on buoys in the shallows.
Other options at the buoys are spear-fishing and take pictures/photos. Not sure if you need a certain skill level or equipment to access spear-fishing (maybe the "Buy knife $250" interaction). You can also "Buy camera $1000" to access underwater photography. Not sure if any of these buyables are inventory objects or if they merely work like buoy upgrades.
Dolphins also spawn at buoys. Dolphins come in 3 varieties, can be befriended, fed, petted and asked to do various tricks. You have your own personal dolphin friend (random variety), and you can name them when your relationship is high enough. Mersims can call dolphins.
Rarely, sharks spawn at buoys. You can be pulled under by sharks, and it can be lethal, though I believe the ghost is Death by Drowning, same as the denizen pond from GF.
I have no idea of the gameplay around the Elementals/Spirits other than it's kind of a karma based system. You treat the island well and you'll be blessed with good things, treat it badly and you'll be cursed with bad luck.
Sims can litter the island or help clean it, even if they aren't in the Conservationist career. Every resident and visitor contributes to the overall environmental health of the island. You can make it worse as well as better. Starting state is bad and there are 3 stages before the best, most ecologically diverse version of the islands. Ecologically healthier islands mean better fish and collectibles, as well as prettier scenery and a possibility to see a sea turtle hatching event!
Lots of things can be used and done in other worlds. If you want a sailing lake in Granite Falls, go ahead and build yourself a giant pool with some outriggers floating on it. You can relax or sunbathe anywhere a beach towel or lounger is placed, or take portable versions with you if you vacation. Anything that is tied to a placeable object is available anywhere you place that object, it's as simple as that.
